Will Sharon win vote?
PM fails to secure majority for now as Knesset vote on new ministerial appointments approaches; earlier, Sharon tells Likud MKs he will not bow down to pressure
Hours before the vote on the appointments of Ronny Bar-On, Ze'ev Boim and Ehud Olmert for ministers, it appears that the prime minister will lose in the vote. While 61-62 Knesset members are expected to oppose Sharon's appointments, only 55 MKs are likely to support them.
Political sources estimated that if Sharon fails to secure a majority for the appointments Monday, he will bring the permanent appointment of Olmert for finance minister for a vote again next week.
Ongoing negotiations are still taking place between Sharon's supporters and various MKs, in a bid to facilitate the approval of at least some of the appointments. Quiet talks with religious party Shas were taking place, in an attempt to convince some party members to refrain from attending the vote.
However, Shas Chairman Eli Yishai declared that his faction will object to the appointments if they are brought before the Knesset in a single vote.
Shinui party Chairman Yosef Lapid has also faced pressure to vote for the appointments, but his role as opposition leader is likely to prevent him from supporting his good friend Olmert.
Meanwhile, ultra-Orthodox MKs are expected to support Sharon in the vote.
Sharons hosts Likud MKs
The time has come to end the quarrels and struggles and reunite the Likud, despite differences of opinion, Sharon told ruling-party Knesset members convened at his official residence in Jerusalem for a festive get-together.
Ahead of the vote on Sharon’s new ministerial appointments, the prime minister made it clear he would not bow down to pressures from so-called Likud “rebels”, who object to his policies. The PM said he would not change the proposed appointments of Ze’ev Boim and Ronny Bar-On under any circumstances and would bring the matter to another vote if needed.
Sunday evening’s get-together was attended by 32 out of the 40 Likud Knesset members. Notable no-shows included Benjamin Netanyahu, Uzi Landau, and Yuli Edelstein. Minister Tzachi Hanegbi, who is not a member of the “rebels,” also did not arrive.
However, those who did make it to Sharon’s residence enjoyed a rich menu that included hummus salad, vine leaves, kebabs, stuffed cabbage, avocado salad, and cabbage salad.
While the MKs were savoring the food, Sharon told them “this year will see an attempt to reach a diplomatic settlement, engage in a war on poverty and violence, and invest in education and other fronts.”
“I intend to undertake efforts in order to end needless disagreements. We cannot return to the situation we were facing before,” the prime minister said, referring to the internal Likud rift, which at times appeared to threaten the ruling-party’s future.
Sources close to the PM expressed their satisfaction over the number of MKs that arrived at the event and noted a pleasant atmosphere prevailed during the get-together. The sources also noted that several Likud “rebels” chose to show up.
Meanwhile, other Likud “rebels” chose to meet with Gaza Strip evacuees in Jerusalem during a convention initiated by Uzi Landau and also attended by Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin.
Rift grows
Ahead of the Knesset vote, the rift between Sharon and his Likud opponents seem wider than ever, as does the split between those who support the ministerial appointments and those who oppose them.
Sources close to Sharon have already threatened that "if the appointments are not approved, the prime minister will find his way to the president's house soon," and bring forward general elections.
Sharon's major opponent Benjamin Netanyahu, who has acted behind the PM's back in recent days to prevent the appointments, officially announced he intends to vote against them.
"This is a clear act of vote-buying and a continuation of the corruption of politics in Israel. MKs should vote on crucial issues according to their conscience and the mandate they were granted, and not in response to threats or rewards promised by the PM in exchange for the vote," a message by Netanyahu's office stated.
Sharon's associates accused Netanyahu of another attempt to overthrow Sharon, and said that "it now becomes clear who really stands behind the division in the Likud – the rebels and Netanyahu."
Meanwhile, MKs Uzi Landau and Moshe Kahlon have also announced during the weekend they will vote against the appointments.
The number of opponents to the appointments within the Likud now stands on eight: Michael Ratzon, Netanyahu, Kahlon, Landau, David Levi, Naomi Blumenthal, Ehud Yatom and Ayoob Kara.
However, if the PM turns the vote into a confidence vote, some of the MKs are expected to abstain or skip the vote.
